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The award ceremony for the Bianca Pomeranzi Prize was held at the headquarters of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Rome. This initiative was created to honor and perpetuate the legacy of Bianca Pomeranzi’s extraordinary contributions to promoting women’s rights and freedoms at both the national and international levels. Bianca Maria Pomeranzi (1950-2023) was a prominent figure in Italian development cooperation and the feminist movement. She co-founded AIDOS (Italian Association of Women for Development) and served as Senior Gender Expert at the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pomeranzi also led the Local Technical Unit of Dakar for Italian Cooperation in Senegal and East Africa (2010-11), and was elected a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Bianca Pomeranzi Prize, now in its first edition, is awarded to graduates in Development Cooperation Studies who present theses focused on feminist and gender policies and practices in political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic fields. The award was presented to Lena Châtreaux for her thesis titled “Women’s Design of Alternative Spaces of Socio-Economic Existence. The Case Study of the Rotating, Saving and Credit Associations in the City of Louga, Senegal,” completed as part of her Master’s in Area and Global Studies for International Cooperation at the University of Turin. “It is an honor to receive the Bianca Pomeranzi Prize for both its history and the opportunities it offers,” said Châtreaux, adding that she is proud to be part of Oxfam Italy’s Gender Justice and Women’s Rights Program. Ugo Ferrero, Head of Communications and Institutional Relations at AICS, emphasized the agency’s strong support for the prize, recognizing Bianca Pomeranzi’s pivotal role in shaping Italian development cooperation’s gender equality strategies and actions. He stated, “Achieving gender equality is essential for social and economic development.” Marta Collu, AICS Gender Equality Officer, concluded the event by reaffirming the agency’s commitment to promoting gender equality in Pomeranzi’s legacy. She highlighted the importance of awareness-raising and training for AICS staff and partner organizations to improve project design and gender mainstreaming.
The Bianca Pomeranzi Prize, now in its first edition, is dedicated to graduates in Development Cooperation Studies who present theses focused on feminist and gender policies and practices in political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic fields.
Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli Chairs the Sixth Meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation 2024
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, chaired the sixth meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation in 2024, which approved a significant package of interventions totaling €531 million.
The Coffeeprint of Tomorrow: AICS Participates in the Lavazza Foundation Event
After the invitation of the Lavazza Foundation, AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) took part in "The Coffeeprint of Tomorrow" event, held at the Centrale Nuvola Lavazza in Turin on September 30th to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Giuseppe and Pericle Lavazza Foundation. Today, the Lavazza Foundation is involved in 30 projects across 20 countries on 3 continents, benefiting over 180,000 people, aligned with the SDGs.
AICS Havana Launches the First Delegated Cooperation Program for Ecological Transition
The program has a financial allocation of 31 million euros from the European Union, with an additional 1.7 million euros co-financed by AICS, primarily allocated for technical assistance and management of activities. The program’s strategy focuses on promoting agro-ecological and sustainable energy transitions at the local level, while facilitating effective governance through the strengthening and synergy of public and private actors in the intervention areas.
G7 Agriculture and Fisheries and Expo “Divination”: Italian Cooperation Presents Its ProjectsInnovation, cooperation with developing countries, and reciprocal trade to reaffirm the role of agriculture in producing quality food and managing territories: at the G7 Agriculture and Fisheries and Expo “Divination”, running until September 29 in Syracuse on the island of Ortigia, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests, Italian Cooperation is represented by a substantial delegation and a stand showcasing some of its most significant projects. Featured are interventions in Ethiopia’s coffee sector, the revitalization of the moringa agro-food chain in Burkina Faso, and sensory tastings of honey produced in Egypt. The stand also highlights support for micro-enterprises involved in dairy, vegetables, dates, aromatic herbs, and olive production in Tunisia. Visitors can explore the booth created by AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) with the support of the Farnesina (Directorate General for Development Cooperation), learning about Italian Cooperation’s initiatives aimed at promoting diversified and ecologically sustainable food production, with a special focus on crops with higher nutritional value and greater resilience to climate change. Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of AICS, explained: “Our initiatives are focused on strengthening food supply chains, and—in the spirit of the Mattei Plan—we aim to involve producing countries across all segments of the value chain that generate income, guided by technology and innovation, while maintaining the primary goal of ensuring food security. In this context, an essential condition is the enhancement of women’s roles in ensuring equitable access to resources, a key element of the gender approach we incorporate in our projects.”
Featured are interventions in Ethiopia’s coffee sector, the revitalization of the moringa agro-food chain in Burkina Faso, and sensory tastings of honey produced in Egypt. The stand also highlights support for micro-enterprises involved in dairy, vegetables, dates, aromatic herbs, and olive production in Tunisia.
Digital Ecosystems: New Development Policies for Italy’s System
The agreement sets the foundation for close collaboration on digital development projects, with a focus on public digital infrastructure, technical-scientific training, and the spread of Digital Identity in countries where Italian Cooperation operates.
First Edition of the Bianca Pomeranzi Award at the AICS Headquarters
On October 1st, 2024, at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) headquarters in Rome, the ceremony for the Bianca Pomeranzi Award will take place. This initiative was created to honor the legacy of Bianca Maria Pomeranzi (1950-2023) and her extraordinary contribution to the promotion of women's rights and freedoms at both national and transnational levels.
MELyT II: Economic Empowerment of Women in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
Paolo Gallizioli, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in San Salvador, undertook a mission to Honduras. The visit focused on various activities related to the UN Women initiative "MELyT II: Economic Empowerment of Women in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras."
NaturKosovo: An Italian Project for Mountain Rescue
“NaturKosovo” aims to promote the Kosovar section of the Via Dinarica, a 120 km hiking route passing through the regions of Peja/Peć, Deçan/Dečani, and Junik. The project emphasizes sustainable and responsible tourism, enhancing the area's abundant natural, cultural, and historical resources through trail development, strengthening local institutions, supporting small entrepreneurial activities, and promoting the "Via Dinarica Kosovo" brand.
Arab Water Forum: Italy’s Commitment to Water
Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), participated in the session titled “Advancing Global and Regional Water Initiatives for a Sustainable Future.” This session focused on the deep connection between regional strategies and the global agenda on water policies.
5% Global Fund 2024 Call Published in Official Gazette
The Call for the granting of contributions to "Synergistic Initiatives" proposed by CSOs, Universities, and Public Research Entities within the Framework of Technical Support Spending to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has been published in the Official Gazette
AICS Hanoi: mission of Mr Giuseppe Cerasoli, Administrative Deputy Director
In line with the effort to improve the Governance of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS, Mr Giuseppe Cerasoli, Administrative Deputy Director and Head of Corruption Prevention and Transparency of the Agency, conducted a mission to the AICS Office in Hanoi, Vietnam